There is a question I keep asking myself whenever I watch a Nigerian creative break through internationally: what would happen if we stopped looking at their success only as entertainment and started looking at the principles behind it?

That is exactly how I feel whenever I think about Tems.

Of course, her international success is a story about music, talent and creativity. But to me, it is also a story about building something people can recognise, remember and connect with. And that is where the lesson becomes bigger than music.

Because you do not have to be a musician to understand what it means to build something from your talent.

You could be a writer, designer, video creator, teacher, photographer, freelancer, fashion enthusiast, tech lover, or simply someone sitting at home wondering whether that idea you have been carrying around in your head could actually become an income stream.

When I look at Tems’ journey, I am reminded that global recognition rarely comes from doing everything at once. It often starts with one thing you are willing to take seriously.

And in 2026, many of us already have one of the most accessible tools for turning an idea into something real sitting in our hands: a smartphone.

Tems’ rise from Nigerian singer-songwriter to internationally recognised artist did not happen because the world suddenly decided to pay attention. Her career has been built through music, collaborations, performances, songwriting, personal identity and years of creative development.

Her international breakthrough became especially visible through collaborations such as Wizkid’s “Essence,” while her work with global artists and her own projects continued to expand her audience. She has also earned major recognition, including Grammy Awards, and her international profile has continued to grow.

But what catches my attention is something that awards and numbers do not always communicate.

People know what Tems represents.

That matters.

In a crowded internet where millions of people are creating content every day, being recognisable is an advantage. And I believe that same principle applies to online business.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they want to start making money online is copying what already appears to be working.

Someone makes money selling ebooks, so you want to sell ebooks. Someone starts a faceless YouTube channel, and suddenly you want one too. Someone posts motivational videos and gets millions of views, so everybody starts posting motivational videos.

There is nothing wrong with studying successful people. In fact, I think we should.

The problem begins when we copy the surface without understanding the foundation.

Tems did not become Tems by trying to become somebody else.

That is a powerful lesson for anyone building an online business.

Before asking, “What is trending?”, I think we should also ask, “What can I become known for?”

That question can completely change your strategy.

Instead of creating random content, you begin developing a niche. Instead of selling random products, you solve a particular problem. Instead of chasing every platform, you focus on where your audience actually spends time. Instead of trying to become famous overnight, you start building trust.

And trust is one of the most valuable assets you can build online.

This is where I think the opportunity becomes particularly interesting.

For years, the phrase “online business” made people imagine expensive laptops, complicated software, office spaces and large amounts of startup capital. But that picture is changing.

Today, your smartphone can allow you to research an idea, create content, communicate with customers, edit videos, design graphics, write documents, manage social media, learn new skills and promote products.

That does not mean a smartphone magically creates income.

It means the barrier to starting is lower than many people think.

And I think that distinction is important.

You do not need to start with a huge business. You need to start with something useful.

If I were starting from zero today, I would not begin by asking, “What can make me rich quickly?”

I would ask, “What problem can I solve with the skills I already have—or can learn?”

From there, several possibilities begin to appear.

Maybe it is content creation.

If you enjoy writing, talking, teaching, entertaining or explaining things, your phone can become your starting point. You can create videos, articles, newsletters, podcasts or educational content. At the beginning, the goal does not necessarily have to be money. It can be attention and trust.

Once people consistently find your content useful, entertaining or interesting, you can explore legitimate ways to monetise that audience through advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, digital products or services.

Maybe your opportunity is creating digital products.

This is something I find particularly interesting because you can turn knowledge into something people can access digitally. That could be an ebook, template, checklist, guide, study material, printable resource, social-media template or mini-course.

But there is something I would always remind myself before creating one: do not create a product simply because you want something to sell.

Create it because somebody has a problem you can help solve.

If your product saves someone time, teaches a useful skill, organises information or helps them achieve something they care about, then it has a reason to exist.

Maybe your opportunity is freelancing.

You do not necessarily need your own product to start making money online. You can sell your skill.

Writing, proofreading, graphic design, video editing, social-media management, virtual assistance, transcription and other digital services can become freelance opportunities.

Your smartphone can help you communicate with clients, showcase your work and manage parts of your workflow. As your income grows, you can eventually invest in better equipment.

But you do not necessarily have to wait for perfect equipment before developing the skill.

And perhaps you are more interested in affiliate marketing.

The concept is fairly straightforward: you recommend a product or service using a tracked referral link and may earn a commission when someone makes a qualifying purchase.

But I think there is an important lesson here too.

Do not turn your social-media page into a wall of affiliate links.

People are looking for solutions, not advertisements.

Create useful content first. Build trust. Understand what your audience needs. Then recommend products or services that genuinely fit those needs.

That is a much more sustainable way of approaching affiliate marketing.

The same thinking applies if you want to build a personal brand.

Personal branding can sound complicated until you simplify it. At its core, it is about what people associate with you.

When somebody hears your name, what comes to mind?

That is your brand.

And this is another reason Tems’ career fascinates me. Her identity is not simply “a singer.” Her sound, image, storytelling, collaborations and creative choices all contribute to how audiences perceive her.

For an online entrepreneur, the same principle applies.

If you want to become known for helping people create digital products, keep talking about digital products. If you want to become known for smartphone productivity, keep creating useful content around smartphone productivity. If you want to become known for music creation, keep showing people what you are learning and creating.

Over time, repetition creates recognition.

Recognition can create trust.

And trust can create business opportunities.

But there is another misconception about making money online that I think we need to address: the belief that you need millions of followers.

You don't.

Imagine that you create a digital product that genuinely solves a problem for $20. You do not necessarily need millions of customers. You need the right people to care about what you have created.

The same applies to freelancing.

You do not need millions of followers to become a successful freelance writer. You need clients who value your work.

Affiliate marketing works similarly. You need people who trust your recommendations.

That is why I would rather have a small, engaged audience than a huge audience that does not care about what I offer.

Audience quality can matter more than audience size.

And once I understand that, another important lesson becomes obvious: I do not have to start ten businesses at once.

If I were advising someone who is completely new to online business, I would tell them not to launch a YouTube channel, blog, online store, affiliate business, freelance agency and digital-product company simultaneously.

That is a recipe for confusion.

Start with one.

Learn a skill.

Create around that skill.

Build an audience.

Understand what that audience needs.

Then create a product or service that solves the problem.

That simple progression gives you something you can actually measure and improve.

For example, if I know how to edit videos on my phone, I could start by sharing video-editing tips. If people begin asking me to edit their videos, that could become a freelance service. If I discover that beginners constantly ask the same questions, I could eventually create a guide or digital product.

One skill can create several legitimate income opportunities.

And that is much more powerful than constantly chasing random side hustles.

There is another part of this conversation that takes me back to Tems’ creative journey: music itself can become part of the digital opportunity.

Music is no longer limited to traditional recording studios. Smartphones and accessible music-creation technology have made experimentation easier for beginners.

If you love music, you can begin learning songwriting, melody creation, beat-making and music production from your phone.

You can experiment with original ideas.

You can create content around your process.

You can share what you are learning.

And you can gradually discover whether there is an audience for what you create.

For people interested in exploring that path, tools such as Auxi Sherpa's Music Creation service can make it easier to experiment with creating songs and beats without first having to invest in an expensive studio setup.

That does not mean a tool automatically turns somebody into Tems, Davido or any other established artist.

It simply means that the barrier to starting can be lower.

And sometimes starting is the hardest part.

You could create original music. You could build a music-focused social-media page. You could document your creative journey. You could create educational content around what you learn. You could eventually explore legitimate creative-income opportunities.

The first song does not have to become a global hit.

It can simply be your first song.

That same philosophy applies to online business.

Your first digital product does not have to become a bestseller.

Your first video does not have to go viral.

Your first freelance client does not have to become a major corporation.

Your first article does not have to attract thousands of readers.

Your first attempt is allowed to be small.

In fact, I think that is one of the most important things we can learn from successful people: we often see the finished product but rarely appreciate how ordinary the beginning probably looked.

When we see Tems performing internationally, it is easy to focus on the awards, collaborations, global stages and recognition.

But behind those moments is creative development, persistence, experimentation, opportunities and continued work.

That is why I would not look at Tems’ success and say, “I need to become as famous as Tems.”

That is the wrong lesson.

I would say, “What principles helped her build something recognisable, and how can I apply those principles to my own journey?”

Develop your craft.

Build your identity.

Create consistently.

Learn from feedback.

Take opportunities seriously.

Build relationships.

Think beyond your immediate environment.

Keep improving.

Those principles can apply to almost any career, including online business.

And perhaps the most exciting part is that the internet gives us something previous generations did not have in quite the same way: the ability to take something created in one place and potentially put it in front of people somewhere else.

Think about what that means.

Your first customer could be in another Nigerian city.

Your first reader could be in another country.

Your first freelance client could discover you online.

Your digital product could reach people you have never met.

Your music could travel beyond the community where you created it.

Your smartphone can become the tool that connects your creativity to that opportunity.

Of course, none of this means success is guaranteed.

I would never tell somebody that downloading an app, opening a social-media account or creating a digital product automatically leads to wealth.

It doesn't.

Building an online business still requires learning, patience, consistency, marketing, customer service and the willingness to improve when something does not work.

But the opportunity is real.

And I think that is what we should focus on.

Not overnight wealth.

Not fake promises.

Not shortcuts.

Opportunity.

If I were starting today with only my phone, I would choose one skill or interest, learn it seriously, create around it consistently, listen to the audience I attract and then look for a legitimate way to solve a problem for those people.

Maybe that becomes freelancing.

Maybe it becomes a digital product.

Maybe it becomes affiliate marketing.

Maybe it becomes content creation.

Maybe it becomes an online service.

Maybe it becomes music.

Maybe it becomes something I haven't even considered yet.

The point is to start experimenting.

Because you cannot improve an idea you never launch.

And that is ultimately what I take away from Tems’ international success.

I do not see a guarantee that every talented person will become a global superstar.

I see a reminder that where you start does not necessarily determine how far your work can travel.

A creative idea born in Nigeria can reach the world.

A business started from a smartphone can find customers beyond your immediate environment.

A skill you learn today can become a service tomorrow.

A small audience can become a community.

A simple digital product can become an income stream.

And something you start as a side project can eventually become much bigger than you expected.

So if you have been waiting because you think you need more money, better equipment, more followers or the perfect opportunity, perhaps it is time to ask yourself a different question:

What can I start with what I already have?

Maybe you already have the phone.

Maybe you already have the idea.

Maybe you already have the beginning of the skill.

What you may not have yet is the consistency to keep going long enough to discover what that beginning can become.

Tems’ journey reminds me that you do not have to build everything in one day.

You simply have to take the next step.

Learn.

Create.

Publish.

Listen.

Improve.

Repeat.

And perhaps, somewhere along the way, the thing you started from your phone stops feeling like a small experiment and starts looking like a real business.

That is the possibility I would rather explore than spend another year simply watching somebody else build theirs.

If you have an article, opinion piece, creative idea, or news story you would like published on Global News Arena, or you are ready to begin your journey toward building a profitable digital business from your phone, I would love to hear from you.

Send me an email.

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